16 children get first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine

Bangladesh has started its COVID-19 vaccination programme for children aged 5-11 by administering the Pfizer shot to 16 students.

On Thursday, the students of Abul Bashar Government Primary School in Dhaka’s Sher-e-Bangla Nagar got the vaccine as per the list provided by Dhaka District Primary Education Board. The students are studying in classes two through five.

The special pediatric Pfizer vaccine will be expanded nationwide on August 25.

Health Minister Zahid Maleque will launch the programme at 12:30 pm at the Bangabandhu International Conference Centre. The children will then receive the vaccine.

Bangladesh launched its COVID vaccination drive in Feb 8, 2021, by giving the shot to people over 60. The age limit for registration was brought down in stages to 18. School and college students from 12-17 years of age were also given the vaccine last year.

Now, the Directorate General of Health Services is vaccinating children between the ages of 5 and 11 against the disease.

The children will get a Pfizer vaccine that has been specifically designed for children. According to the DGHS, 3 million doses of this paediatric vaccine have arrived in Bangladesh.